Government Response to Grenfell Inquiry Report

Eight years on from the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy, the UK Government has published its response to the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The Government has accepted all 58 recommendations and outlined a structured three-phase plan to deliver on them.

Phase One (2025 to 2026) – The initial phase will focus on the delivery of existing reforms, recommendations, and consultations. This includes:

• Advancing building safety through the Building Safety Act and the Building Safety Regulator.
• Fixing the remaining buildings with unsafe cladding through the Remediation Acceleration Plan.
• Reviewing responses to the construction products green paper, aiming to improve product conformity, testing, and competence in the sector
• Concluding the resilience review and issuing a strategic statement responding to similar recommendations on resilience and emergency response across multiple enquiries.
• Introduction of regulations needed for social housing reforms, including Awaab’s law, electric safety standards, and social housing staff competence.
• Conclusion of multiple reviews, the findings of which will be published. Proposed changes as a result of these reviews will be consulted on. This includes a review of the building control regime and the approved statutory guidance documents.
• Further consultation on certain recommendations, such as the formation of the single construction regulator and the College of Fire and Rescue.

Phase Two (2026 to 2028) – Phase two intends to keep up the level of change from the first phase by focusing on having fully developed proposals to deliver recommendations and wider reform. Planned actions for this phase include:

• Developing legislation to deliver reforms reviewed and consulted on in phase one.
• Developing legislation to uplift competency standards for fire safety critical professions.
• Continuous review of Approved Document B and the definition of higher-risk building in response to changing buildings.
• Programme of social housing reform focusing on standards for decency and energy efficiency standards. This will also be extended to the private sector.

Phase Three (2028 Onwards) – Finally, Phase Three will involve implementing the reforms with the legislation and regulatory powers already in place. This will ensure that all professionals are qualified and competent. The new system will be kept under review and will be evaluated based on its effectiveness and whether it has improved residents’ lives.

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